Investing in stocks can be intimidating if you’re new to the game. It’s not enough to know which stocks to invest in. You have to have an understanding of the unpredictability of the stock market and the risk that comes with investing any amount of money in something. While there are many bankruptcy exemptions and the likelihood of losing your home or personal property is slim, there are still risks and concerns that are normal to have when starting your investment portfolio. If you want to start investing but are apprehensive about venturing into the world of stocks, here are some tips to help you get started.

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Start Saving Up

This one is a no-brainer, but you need to have money in order to invest money, so start by saving up a few hundred dollars before getting started. This may seem like a lot, but if you make it a goal to sock away $5 or $10 each week, you can easily reach your goal in a year’s time. You can do this by setting up a special savings account at your bank or credit union and have a certain amount taken out of each paycheck and deposited into savings. Doing this will help you save money without you even realizing it, and you’ll be able to rack up enough money to start investing in no time! You can also go the old school route and save your spare change and extra dollars in a piggy bank or mason jar. Just make sure to refrain from dipping into it on rainy days!

Enroll in A Retirement Plan

If your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan, take advantage of it. Investing in your future is one of the best investments you could ever make, and the earlier you can start saving the better. Similarly to saving a little bit of money each week, you could opt to have a small percentage of each paycheck put into a retirement plan. The difference will be so small you won’t even notice it’s gone, and when you finally get to retire you’ll have a comfortable amount of money saved. If your employer doesn’t offer any sort of retirement plan, there are still several ways you could save for retirement. Traditional or Roth IRAs are popular choices that allow you to save for retirement when your employer does not offer a 401(k) plan. It is never too early to start saving for retirement, and regardless of how much you make you can still start saving little by little to set yourself up for success later in life.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help

When you’re first getting started with investing, it’s normal to ask for some guidance from a seasoned investor. If you have a friend or family member who is well-versed in stocks, enlist their help and ask them for some tips to get the ball rolling. Having a mentor that you could go to with any questions or concerns can be a great help in the beginning stages of investing, so don’t be afraid to seek out the expertise of those around you.

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